High School Teammates Commit to Fighting Irish

By Walt Kosin | Apr 1, 2016

Oct 11, 2014; South Bend, IN, USA; A general view of the golden dome at the University of Notre Dame before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

David Adams and Kurt Hinish join the incoming class on 2017 for the Fighting Irish.

In the world of intense recruiting at the Division I level, it is rare to see two highly rated players from the same high school commit to the same university. In Notre Dame’s case it happened last week and Notre Dame fans should be delighted.

Last week the Fighting Irish received verbal commitments from four-star linebacker David Adams and three-start defensive tackle Kurt Hinish. Both players are from Pittsburgh Catholic Central High School and were heavily recruited. They will be part of Notre Dame’s 2017 recruiting class.

David Adams is a 6’2”, 225-lb. linebacker who, according to scouts, is an elite middle linebacker, very physical, and has a nonstop motor. They state he is excellent at stopping the run, but is also very good in pass coverage. With that being said, Adams will probably be a three-down linebacker. Among the many schools who recruited Adams were Florida, LSU, Michigan, Stanford, Wisconsin, and Virginia Tech. Notre Dame beat out his other two finalists who were hometown Pitt and Penn State. Notre Dame sealed the deal with Adams when he attended the Fighting Irish’s Junior Day.

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Kurt Hinish is a 6’3”, 285-lb. defensive tackle who, according to recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, runs a sub 5.0 in the 40-yard dash. He is excellent against the run and needs to improve his pass rushing ability. Besides his quickness for a big man, he also has great natural strength. That strength will definitely improve once he gets into Notre Dame’s weight program.

Hinish was heavily recruited. Among the schools who recruited him were Florida State, Ole Miss, Baylor, North Carolina, South Carolina, Penn State, and Pitt.

The seeds to recruit Adams and Hinish were most likely sown last year when Notre Dame put the full court press trying to recruit four-star cornerback Damar Hamlin. Last November, four or five Notre Dame coaches attended a Central Catholic game. The Fighting Irish were finalists for Hamlin, but he chose hometown Pitt on National Signing Day.

It’s a real delight to be able to recruit two highly talented players from the same high school, and Notre Dame did it. It will be fun to watch Adams and Hinish develop over the next few years. Hopefully, at one of their high school reunions, they’ll talk about how they led the Fighting Irish back to football greatness.

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